Florida: News

Continuing to focus on creating jobs and opportunities for Florida families, Governor Rick Scott recently highlighted his plan to eliminate the sales tax that manufacturers pay when purchasing equipment in Florida. The Governor’s proposed tax cut will help Florida’s economy continue its extraordinary momentum. (Read More)

Triton Submarines LLC, a local manufacturer of personal submersibles, plans to fill 24 new positions over the next two years, adding to their 14 employees. Triton manufactures manned submersibles designed for yacht-based deployment, and is emerging as a global leader in deep diving submersible engineering, design, manufacture and operations. (Read More)

Today, Governor Rick Scott visited the Plasma-Therm headquarters in St. Petersburg, Florida to highlight his commitment to eliminating sales taxes for investments on manufacturing equipment. With just a handful of days until the 2013 Florida Legislative session begins, Governor Scott discussed his Building Up Florida Manufacturing Jobs proposal, intended to help small manufacturing businesses grow and offer more opportunities for Florida families. (Read More)

Governor Scott today announced the construction in Suwannee County of the Klausner Lumber One sawmill, a high-tech facility that will create 350 permanent jobs and inject $130 million in capital over three years. Construction on the site will require 700 additional positions. (Read More)

Governor Rick Scott visited Hernon Manufacturing’s world headquarters to highlight his commitment to eliminating sales taxes for investments on manufacturing equipment. Earlier this month Governor Scott announced his Building Up Florida Manufacturing Jobs proposal, intended to help small manufacturing business grow. (Read More)

Today, Governor Rick Scott announced his commitment to Building Up Florida Manufacturing Jobs in the upcoming legislative session by eliminating taxes on the purchase of equipment to encourage manufacturing companies to grow in Florida. The Governor said building up the state’s manufacturing sector is critical to strengthening the state’s economy because it creates stable jobs for Florida families. (Read More)

According to the National Association of Manufacturers, 93 percent of the state’s exported goods are produced by Florida’s 12,862 manufacturing firms. These firms employ 311,200 workers across the state, with 14.2 percent supported by exporting revenue alone. Florida manufactured goods exports have grown 142.6 percent since 2000, ahead of the national average at 80.1 percent. (Read More)

The Miami-Dade County Commission has approved a $313 million contract for 136 new MetroRail cars to be built by Italian manufacturer AnsaldoBreda. The company has agreed to build a local assembly plant in the Miami area that is expected to create around 100 permanent jobs, plus more temporary jobs. (Read More)

SB Mfg., LLC chose to establish its operations in Pasco County and hire 75 people at average annual wages of $40,000 by 2015 after evaluating locations in Kentucky and Ohio. The company will produce aluminium castings for the automotive parts industry using high quality recycled aluminium from local sources. (Read More)

Entertainment Metals’ new HQ in Fort Myers will result in the creation of new jobs and a total project economic impact for Lee County of more than one million dollars in the next four years. Entertainment Metals operates a high-tech production facility with manufacturing capabilities span a broad range of industries. (Read More)

Stretch Wrap Packaging Industries, a manufacturer of plastic stretch wrap for the logistics industry, has relocated their manufacturing facilities from South America to Fort Lauderdale. The company, whose total foreign direct investment is $12 million, has committed to add 200 jobs over the next three years. (Read More)

Accuform, a leading manufacturer and innovator of safety signs and related products, will invest $15million in the construction of a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility near its present location at the Hernando County Airport Corporate Park. The company will hire an additional 271 employees during the next four years, almost doubling its current staffing (280 employees). (Read More)

The cutting edge, high technology company from the U.K. has established its North American corporate headquarters in Fort Lauderdale and plans to expand to a staff of over 100 by mid-2014. SmartWater offers an asset protection system in the form of a clear liquid which contains a unique forensic code. It is applied to items of value that are frequently the target of theft. (Read More)

HenKay Precast, Inc., a Division of S & S Precast, has expanded into Hendry County and has begun operations by leasing a 50,000SF building--this plant is their first permanent expansion into another state to manufacture concrete. (Read more)

With a significant number of manufacturers in the area, Broward College will help grow this industry sector by making sure that people have the right skills to fill the jobs that are open in manufacturing. (Read more)

Air Products, based in Allentown, Pa., plans to expand its liquefied natural gas heat exchanger manufacturing capacity by constructing a manufacturing in Manatee County. (Read more)

Florida has the highest level of exports as a share of total manufactured goods, according to the National Association of Manufacturers. (Read more)

Home Source International has chosen Florida's Great Northwest as the home of their new Made in USA manufacturing and distribution operations, and plans to create 303 new Florida jobs. (Read more)

In 2011, Florida led the way with $1.47 billion in recreational boat sales, a 35 percent climb over 2010 and the most marine sales of any state. (Read more)

Marinetek, a Finland-based builder of marinas throughout Europe, Asia and Middle East has opened its new North American headquarters in St. Petersburg today, with plans to employ 50. (Read more)

Sun Hydraulics reaffirms its commitment to Florida by building a third manufacturing facility that may create nearly 400 new Florida jobs. (Read more)

Enticed by Florida's talent base, access to direct air travel, and ability to attract additional world class talent, Astor & Black Custom Clothiers is moving out of Ohio and into Florida. (Read more)

The high-tech workforce on Florida's Space Coast has attracted luxury boat builder, Bertram Yacht, and 221 new jobs. (Read more)

High-tech manufacturer, Teledyne Oil & Gas, will strengthen its commitment to Florida by launching a new Daytona Beach R&D center and creating 100 new Florida jobs. (Read more)

Majestic Candies Company plans to bring more than 100 new jobs in the next few years with a projected capital investment of $6 million. (Read more)

Manatee's Hann Powerboats was one of just eight companies highlighted in the U.S. Department of Commerce's Annual Report. (Read more)

GSE Holdings Inc., a subsidiary of Illinois Tool Works Inc. that manufactures aircraft ground support equipment and accessories, plans to relocate its Hobart Ground Power business from Troy, Ohio to Palmetto, Florida, creating 42 new Florida jobs. (Read more)

IRISS, which manufactures infrared windows for inspecting industrial electrical equipment, will consolidate its U.K.--based manufacturing operation and U.S. headquarters at a new global headquarters in Manatee County. (Read more)

ALM Technologies Inc. (a.k.a. Definitive Design Inc.), a high precision aerospace manufacturing company, is moving out of Georgia and into Nassau County, Florida. (Read more)

Cantonment-based Custom Control Solutions, Inc. is expanding to Pensacola. (Read more)

Radical Cosmetics, LLC, will relocate its corporate headquarters and manufacturing facility from New Brunswick, New Jersey to the City of Lake Worth Commerce Park. The company selected Florida over locations in California and Virginia. (Read more)

The company anticipates hiring 50 people over the next 36 months and investing $5 million in its operation. The mix of employees ranges from mechanical engineers to quality control to production managers and entry level production. (Read more)

Paragon Plastics, Inc., a custom plastic thermoforming manufacturer, is expanding its existing operations in Cocoa. (Read more)

Eastern Shipbuilding has announced plans to create 500 new Bay County jobs and invest $17 million in new equipment. (Read more)

Banah International, a sugar producer that plans to hire nearly 300 employees during the next three years, has leased more than 300,000 square feet of space in Hialeah. (Read more)

Florida's skilled manufacturing jobs are growing thanks to small-to mid-sized businesses (read more) and Florida's innovative workforce training collaborations (read more).

Coca-Cola Refreshments is investing $99 million to expand its Main Street juice production facility in Auburndale. The expansion also includes adding 60 new jobs. (Read more)

Colt's Manufacturing Co. LLC announced its commitment to create 63 jobs in Osceola County for its new regional headquarters and product manufacturing center, The center will hire people for engineering and manufacturing jobs, among others. (Read more)

Motorcycle giant Harley-Davidson Inc. has relocated its Latin American division from Milwaukee to Florida, and is opening its new headquarters for Latin America operations in Doral. (Read more)

Bolivia-based Damo USA purchased a 40,000-square-foot warehouse in Hialeah to produce fine cookies, investing $4.5 million and creating 47 direct jobs. (Read more)

Amcor Rigid Plastics, the manufacturing subsidiary of Australia's Amcor PET Packaging, has announced plans to expand their presence in the city of Orlando, making a capital investment of $19.4 million and bringing their total employment in the region to 126. (Read more)

Tropicana Products Inc. will reinvest $60 million at its Fort Pierce location for new packaging and pulping operations. (Read more)

The Ipe Clip Fastener Company LLC has moved its headquarters and manufacturing operations from South Carolina to Manatee County where the company plans to add 80 employees over the next five years. (Read more)

Ascend Performance Materials is adding 102 new employees and making $50 million in improvements to expand its Pensacola nylon manufacturing operation, which is already the world's largest fully integrated nylon 6,6 manufacturing facility. (Read more)

This local family-owned business is expanding to a new, $6.5 million, 65,000-square-foot state-of-the-art production facility in East Naples. (Read more)

Global Components Inc., a division of U.K.-based plastic component manufacturer TCB-Arrow, has selected Manatee County for its U.S. operations and plans to create 50 jobs over three years. (Read more)

Barn Light Electric Company, a lighting manufacturer offering a wide range of lighting, ceiling fans and industrial furniture, is investing $1.1 million expand into a 10,000 sq. ft. facility in Mims. (Read more)

Barn Light Electric Company, a lighting manufacturer offering a wide range of lighting, ceiling fans and industrial furniture, will maintain its current headquarters in Titusville and expand into a new facility in Mims. (Read more)

Octex LLC will nearly double its footprint in Sarasota County and add 80 jobs over five years as the company expands to meet demand for its custom plastic injection molding services. (Read more)

In its fourth expansion in Sarasota County since 1991, Aso LLC will locate its Millenium Coating LLC subsidiary in Sarasota County, a move that will add 50 new jobs over five years. (Read more)

Altadis USA, one of the largest cigar companies in the US, announced that it will expand its 22 year headquarters presence in Fort Lauderdale through integrating administrative functions of a related company, Commonwealth Brands, currently located in Bowling Green, KY. (Read more)

CNNMoney highlights FireIce, a breakthrough product made by Jupiter-based GelTech Solutions, in Small Business: Innovation Nation. (Read more)

Salazar Machine and Steel breaks ground on a 20,000 square foot facility at the Immokalee Airport that will create 50 new jobs. (Read more)

Check out our latest blog post to hear Ricardo Schneider, president and CEO of the Dutch company Danfoss Turbocor, share how Florida's favorable business climate has helped his company grow. (Read more)

Florida's reduced costs and efficiency advantages helped convince Skybridge Technology Group to move their manufacturing operations out of South Carolina and into Florida. (Read more)

PGT Industries, the maker of hurricane-resistant windows and doors, announced in December that it would bring 400 jobs back to Venice through the closing of a plant in Sailsbury, N.C. The company is now looking to hire 150 workers by June 30. (Read more)

Creonix LLC, an advanced electronics manufacturing services company, is expanding its Manatee County facility and plans to add 105 employees over the next five years. (Read more)

West Palm Beach-based Shoes For Crews, a producer of slip-resistant footwear, is growing to 37,000 square feet and adding 30 new jobs as part of a consolidation of its Las Vegas operation into West Palm Beach. (Read more)

Carlisle Interconnect Technologies, headquartered in Saint Augustine, Florida with multiple factories located around the world is pleased to announce a multi-million dollar expansion that will lead to approximately 90 new jobs over the next two to three years. (Read more)

Brazil's Boldini S.A. has agreed to build five ships in Panama City's port and is bringing at least 300 new jobs there to Eastern Shipbuilding Group. (Read more)

Wheeled Coach Industries, Inc., the world's largest manufacturer of ambulances and emergency-rescue vehicles, headquartered in Winter Park, has purchased a competing company from South Carolina. The acquisition will result in the merger of operations at the company's Orange County facility, a move expected to result in 105 new manufacturing jobs and over $2 million new capital investmentin Central Florida. (Read more)

WestPoint Home, one of the leading manufacturers of home textiles in the United States,is expanding in Northwest Florida. The decision to consolidate manufacturing, receiving and shipping in a single location has increased the company's Washington County employment from 285 to 425 in less than two years, with additional employment anticipated, further reinforcing Northwest Florida's reputation as a leading Southeastern United States manufacturing and distribution center. (Read more)

Signature Brands LLC, celebrates the grand opening of their new 127,000 square-foot popcorn plant that will produce 80-100 full-time jobs and 100-125 seasonal jobs in Ocala. (Read more)

A merger between Solamatrix of St. Petersburg and Madico of Masschusetts late last year is resulting in several new jobs being added in Pinellas County in 2011. (Read more)

Tropicana Products, Inc. is making a multi-million-dollar investment in Manatee County for a new building, equipment and workforce training. (Read more)

Plasma-Therm LLC invests over $1 million to launch Rev-Tech, a machine shop subsidiary that provides high-end service and materials to make equipment used by name-brand electronic companies to produce semiconductor chips. (Read more)

The Department of the Navy awarded a $29 million shipbuilding and support contract to Maritime Security Strategies, LLC, of Tampa, Florida. MSS will work with its primary design agent and shipbuilding partner, RiverHawk Fast Sea Frames, LLC, also of Tampa, to design, produce and outfit the ship. (Read more)

High-Performance Magnetics has broken ground on its new production facility at the Tallahassee Regional Airport. The company is a manufacturing and management firm that specializes in providing high-quality superconducting magnet products. (Read more)

Oshkosh Corp., a Fortune 350 company, is expanding its Pierce Manufacturing and Frontline Communications operations in Florida. The result could add up to 200 jobs in Bradenton and Clearwater in 2011. (Read more)

BRS Aerospace, a company that manufactures parachutes, has opened a factory in Pompano Beach and is hiring at least 450 workers. (Read more)

PGT Industries will transfer its Salisbury, NC operations to Venice, FL, consolidating the company's window and door production at its Florida plant and bringing approximately 300 new positions to Sarasota County in 2011. The company plans to add 400 new positions in North Venice over the next five years. (Read more)

Sarasota Medical Products, which manufactures medical devices for advanced wound care, infection control and ostomy, plans to add 60 employees over the next five years, and Tervis Tumbler Co., a manufacturer of insulated drinkware, will add 214 jobs over the next three years. (Read more)

MH Operations, a manufacturer of commercial, industrial and residential hoses, is moving to Flagler County and expects to create 125 jobs over the next two years. (Read more)

Sheet Metal Unlimited, a general fabrication and machine shop, is expanding in Martin County. The company is moving to a 36,000 square foot facility to accommodate future growth, and to create space for the addition of approximately $850,000 in new equipment - a state-of-the-art laser cutter and sand blasting booth. (Read more)

Micro Matic, a leading Danish manufacturer of beverage dispensing equipment, is expanding in Brooksville, Florida. The facility expansion will provide space for a consolidation of operations from the west coast. (Read more)

One of Haines City's largest employers, the paper manufacturer Cellynne, is about to get even larger thanks to a recent expansion, and the expansion doesn't stop here- business has been so good that Cellynne is now building a more environmentally friendly product that is expected to create even more jobs in the future. (Read more)

Roses Southeast Papers LLC will undergo a $7.5 million expansion in May, nearly doubling the size of its Sanford plant and adding 50 new local jobs. (Read more)

The Hub City is the seventh best small city for high-tech manufacturing companies to expand or relocate, according to a national study conducted by the Boyd Co. The study also ranked Lynn Haven in Bay County as the eighth best small city for a manufacturing plant to locate. (Read more)

Micro Star Innovations plans to nearly double its Largo workforce, creating new positions in engineering and research and development.  The company, in Largo since 2004, utilizes robots to make products ranging from specialized light bulb housings to high-tech laparoscopic surgical tools.  (Read more)